Publications by authors named "Ann G Wintle"
Flake based assemblages (Mode 1) comprise the earliest stone technologies known, with well-dated Oldowan sites occurring in eastern Africa between ~2.6-1.7 Ma, and in less securely dated contexts in central, southern and northern Africa.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFOptically stimulated luminescence (OSL) measurements are reported for both single aliquots (of two different sizes) and single grains of quartz from deposits within Blombos Cave. Ages have been obtained for six sediments from the Middle Stone Age (MSA) occupation levels and for two sterile sands, one underlying the archaeological sediment and one overlying the Later Stone Age occupation levels. The ages for the archaeological sediments were obtained from single-grain measurements that enabled unrepresentative grains to be rejected.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- The discovery of abstract engravings on red ochre from Blombos Cave suggests advanced cognitive abilities in early humans dating back 77,000 years.
- The dating methods used, including thermoluminescence and optically stimulated luminescence, confirm the age and integrity of the findings.
- This evidence indicates that modern human behavior may have emerged in Africa at least 35,000 years earlier than previously believed, predating the Upper Paleolithic era.